Turkey Says Ready to Deploy Troops to Azerbaijan

An Azerbaijani service member and a Russian peacekeeper stand guard at a checkpoint in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh (File photo: Reuters)
An Azerbaijani service member and a Russian peacekeeper stand guard at a checkpoint in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh (File photo: Reuters)
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Turkey Says Ready to Deploy Troops to Azerbaijan

An Azerbaijani service member and a Russian peacekeeper stand guard at a checkpoint in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh (File photo: Reuters)
An Azerbaijani service member and a Russian peacekeeper stand guard at a checkpoint in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh (File photo: Reuters)

Turkey has announced that it will send troops to monitor the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh following the Russian-mediated agreement signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On November 9, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia signed a joint statement on the complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced that the armed forces will be sent to the region of Azerbaijan in the shortest period of time.

During his tour to a military industry facility, Akar noted that the decision to send Turkish soldiers to Azerbaijan has been approved by the parliament, which give the green light for a one-year deployment.

“Our preparations are completed …Turkish soldiers will start their duty in Azerbaijan as soon as possible.”

Akar denounced Western accusations to the Azerbaijani army of burning and destroying parts of the region, saying the military was liberating its lands from a 30-year occupation.

He stated that the whole world witnessed as the Armenian army deliberately bombed populated areas in Azerbaijan.

Recent reports revealed that Turkey has transferred dozens of Arab and Turkmen families from areas under its control in northeastern Syria to Karabakh. The families will settle in the areas after the withdrawal of the Armenian forces.

The representative of self-administration in northern and eastern Syria, Sivan Xaburi, said he received confirmed information that the Turkish government was transferring Syrian families to change the demographic composition of the region.

He added that the administration contacted the Kurds, and confirmed that a number of Syrian families had arrived in the region via Turkey.

Xaburi also accused Turkey of changing the demography of Afrin in Syria, which now has less than seven percent of its indigenous population.

Meanwhile, French Trade Minister Franck Riester warned that the European Council will consider imposing restrictions on Turkey during its next meeting following its "unacceptable" behavior in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Riester told "France Inter" radio that the upcoming meeting will discuss increasing the pressure on Turkey.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in Armenia on Saturday at the head of a high-ranking delegation.

During a press briefing, Lavrov confirmed that the delegation's meetings focused on ensuring the “accurate and full implementation” of the statement issued by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Both Russia and Armenia stressed that attempts to discredit this statement are unacceptable, said Lavrov.

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Russian peacekeeping troops provided safe corridors to all refugees who wish to return to their areas.

“As of today, almost 7,000 citizens have returned, this work continues, and I am sure that everyone who would like to return to Nagorno-Karabakh will be able to do so.”

Shoigu held a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Vagharshak Harutyunyan in Yerevan to discuss the main priorities of the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Harutyunyan highly appreciated the actions of the Russian peacekeepers to restore peace in the region.

"The ceasefire is being observed. Frankly, for this conflict, which has such a history and such a geography, forces were deployed so quickly and so effectively.”



Israeli Judiciary Examines Impeaching Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 
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Israeli Judiciary Examines Impeaching Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 

Well-informed sources in the Israeli judiciary have reported that the government's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is re-examining the possibility of impeaching Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of the hostile stance he and his government are taking against the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.

The dispute between the PM and Bar had lately gone far as to urge Netanyahu to cancel a security forum scheduled two days ago after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced his intention to boycott such meetings if the Shin Bet chief attends.

Israeli sources said Netanyahu’s decision is a “serious violation of the rules of governance.”

They accused the government of letting internal rivalries override urgent national security concerns.

The PM decision to cancel the security meeting came amid increased tensions between the political echelon and the country’s security and judicial system, particularly considering the fresh security scandal, which saw a Shin Bet official arrested on suspicion of leaking classified information to an elected official and two journalists.

It also comes after Netanyahu’s cabinet voted last month to fire Bar, a decision that the High Court of Justice froze until further notice.

Unofficial Security Consultations

On Wednesday, Kan 11 reported that from now on, Netanyahu will hold the majority of his security meetings informally, to ensure that the head of the Shin Bet does not attend.

On Wednesday, Smotrich’s office said he notified Netanyahu he would not participate in security meetings if Bar was attending, calling him a “dangerous man” who uses Shin Bet tools for “personal needs” and to “take revenge on politicians and journalists.”

Opposition’s Reaction

In return, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who said that calling off a security cabinet meeting “because of a threat from an extremist minister is a direct violation of state security.”

He added that the “criminal government is a danger to every citizen of the State of Israel”.

Similarly, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that it was “alarmed” that “sensitive security discussions are being canceled due to personal and political disputes.”

“What other discussions will be canceled due to the same conflicts?” the forum asked. “Will the fate of the hostages be decided based on petty politics?

“Show responsibility, sit in one room and come up with an agreement that will return everyone,” it added.

Benny Gantz, chairman of the opposition National Unity party, said that the cancellation of the meeting was “reckless” and could harm Israel’s national security.